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actually 2-3 of the guys on NFLN are picking the cards...which makes me nervous. They're all saying the Cards were up on us last time, the now have a "running" game and they'll buck the east coast trend. Me no likey....

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They have NO running game....Edge managed 75 yds against the 28th rated run defense of the Falcons.

They were up because of a blocked punt and a fumble on the 5 yd line...in the first few min of the game. After that, we rolled them.

This one won't even be close.

I agree to a point but they did run on Atlanta and it was no surprise to them.

Below is an article in the Atlanta paper before that game. We have to stop the run.

Falcons’ Abraham worried about Cardinals run game

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When the Falcons meet the Cardinals Saturday in their first playoff game in four seasons, Abraham will be worried about one thing.

“I really feel they are going to try to run the ball on us,” Abraham said. “For a couple weeks we have been giving up runs here and there. Last week we made Steven Jackson look like Walter Payton.”

Jackson, St. Louis’s running back, gashed the Falcons for 161 yards, their second highest yield of the season.

The Falcons run defense has had solid moments this season. They held Chicago rookie Matt Forte to 76 yards. San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 24 yards on 14 carries. Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, who led the league in rushing, was held to 76 yards on 22 carries.

The Falcons were not at full strength last week against St. Louis with two starters out. Safety Lawyer Milloy and defensive end Jamaal Anderson did not play.

“Everybody could see that our defense was kind of flat without Lawyer in there,” Abraham said. “He’s kind of like our guy on the defense. He does a good job coming up and making big plays for us. He’s a safety, but he plays like a linebacker.”

Milloy has been limited in practice this week, but is expected to start against the Cardinals, who have the worst running game in the league. The Cardinals average 73.6 yards rushing per game, 32nd in the NFL.

“We want to try to force the offense’s hand as early as possible,” Milloy said. “A lot of times, that’s stopping the run early. If we can do that then we’ll really dictate what the offense does.”

The Cardinals dusted off veteran running back Edgerrin James in their final two games. James, who’s rushed for more than 11,000 yards in his career, was benched earlier this season.

“Anytime that you have a veteran that has been in the playoffs before, they understand the sense of urgency that’s involve,” Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “It seems like he’s fired up and ready to go.

“We did establish a little bit of a run game (against Seattle). Who knows if we can continue that, but we are certainly going to try.”

James, 30, a four-time Pro Bowler, lead the league in rushing in 1999 and 2000. He had a career-low 133 carries this season.

“It’s certainly good to know that you have a veteran back that is playing at a high level and that he’s excited about getting his opportunity in the playoffs,” Whisenhunt said. “That’s going to help make us a little harder to stop if we can get a consistent run game.”

Falcons coach Mike Smith faced James twice a year, when he was in Jacksonville and James was with Indianapolis. He’s very familiar with his work.

“The thing that is impressive about Edgerrin is that he gets those hidden yards,” Smith said. “He doesn’t get knocked back. When there is contact he’s going to get a yard, a yard and half or two yards.”

Rookie running back Tim Hightower started seven games for the Cardinals. He averaged 2.8 yards per carry on 143 carries and did have a 109-yard game against St. Louis on Nov. 2.

“We anticipate that we’re going to go out there and defend the run too,” Smith said. “It’s not just going to be a throwing fest out there.”

The Cardinals also can use J.J. Arrington out of the backfield.

“He does a nice job on some of the perimeter runs,” Smith said. “They also will move him around out of the backfield and throw screens to him. … You can’t discount what they can do running the ball.”

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On Mike & Mike they have a confidence pick. The lower the number the better. Carolina 15 Arizona 30. It's the biggest spread of the 4 games.

I really hope Fox has kept the team away from all media this week.

:mad2: We've had 2 players on tv so far for interviews. I'de say they're not just staying away from the media - they ARE the media :mad2:

We always come through in the Playoffs. Only egg we laid was in Seattle.....when we were down to a Practice Squad Player as our only RB.

Don't Worry......Be Happy.

While this provides comfort for fans it really isn't that great of logic. Stats accumulate from everywhere - wins and losses. So I can't really respect this way of thinking. Track records are a good assessment but not a tale of what is going to happen, rather what DID happen. Those were different teams as well. With different key players.